Hatch may reverse himself and run in 2018

The Senate’s most senior Republican — Utah's Orrin Hatch — is seriously considering a run for an eighth term, a move that would reverse his 2012 declaration that he would retire at the end of his current term.

Hatch is mulling a run for an eighth term in the 2018 midterms, according to Republicans in Washington and Utah, though he has made no final decision and will likely wait until the current election is over to do so. And if he were to run again, he could draw a primary challenge from Republicans that have been itching to run for a statewide seat since Hatch first announced his retirement plans.

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“I don’t think he’s made a decision. I don’t think that will happen until after the election. He should wait and see if he wins the majority,” said one top Utah GOP consultant operative on Tuesday. “He is legitimately thinking about it, but I think one reason to stay on the fence for as long as possible is you maintain relevance and legitimacy.”

“He hasn’t ruled it out. And he’s also going to wait and see what happens in this election,” said a second Republican operative in the state. “He hasn’t really decided what he’s going to do for sure.”

Hatch’s office said late Tuesday that he's concentrating on the most immediate task at-hand: Keeping the Senate majority.

"Senator Hatch is working overtime to help elect fellow Republicans in November. Although many have urged him to consider serving another term, he won't even begin to think about the 2018 cycle until after this year's elections," said Rob Porter, Hatch's chief of staff.

Some Republicans think he’s leaning toward another run, with the 82-year-old Hatch sending strong signals to supporters and donors that he’s gearing up for another tussle with the state’s conservatives. Hatch is viewed by some some conservative activists as too moderate, though he easily dispatched a challenger from the right in 2012 after former Sen. Bob Bennett (R-Utah) lost his primary in 2010.

Hatch has given top GOP fundraiser Heather Larrison an expanded role on the political side, said several sources close to Hatch’s political operation. Larrison, who served as finance director for Jeb Bush's failed 2016 presidential bid, has helped do fundraising for him in the past and currently is assisting Hatch with raising money for Senate Republicans, but she would be a serious asset for Hatch if he were to run again.

And multiple Republicans interviewed by POLITICO confirmed they’ve talked to Hatch about running, many of them making the case that he should run both to help his state and to keep the upper rungs of Senate leadership relatively stable. Hatch is president pro tempore of the Senate when Republicans are in the majority, with a security detail and in the line of succession for the presidency, and is currently the Senate finance chairman with several terms of eligibility left to stay as the top Republican on the powerful tax-writing panel.

“Sen. Hatch is an asset for the state of Utah. It would be a huge thing for the state of Utah to not have him there,” said Bill Simmons, managing director for Dutko Grayling, a lobbying firm with several Utah clients. “My advice to him was: ‘Sir, this is a big decision you’ve got to make, but before you make this decision please consider the state of Utah and how important the work that you’ve done for the state.’”

“There’s criticism about longevity," said Sandy City Mayor Tom Dolan, who is serving his fifth term. "But who am I to criticize?”

Indeed Hatch has never been more powerful in the Senate than he is today. But several prominent Republicans have been eyeing Hatch’s seat, including Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) and former Gov. Jon Huntsman, a moderate and former ambassador to China under President Barack Obama.

“Sen. Hatch is beloved in Utah, and I've heard nothing indicating he's thinking of running again,” said Huntsman in an email. He did not respond to a follow-up on whether he is considering running for the Senate seat himself.

Huntsman and Chaffetz, along with much of the state’s political leadership, have disavowed Donald Trump in the wake of audio demonstrating him bragging about making unwanted sexual advances toward women. Hatch called those comments “offensive and disgusting” but did not unendorse Trump, and recently he has been a prominent voice in the Senate backing Trump, particularly in September when Trump’s electoral chances were rosier.

“I think Utah is going to go for Evan McMullin. They’re smart to shut up about it,” said the first Republican consultant in Utah. “A month ago Hatch held onto the illusion that Trump might win and wanted to maintain a friendly stance. It’s a difficult spin to abandon him right now.”